STANFORD, Calif. - Concordia University Irvine's debut in the NCAA men's water polo tournament proved to be one the team can be proud of as the Golden Eagles battled top-seeded USC in the national quarterfinals.

Playing at the prestigious Avery Aquatic Center on the campus of Stanford University, Concordia's first goal in NCAA Tournament history came on a trick play that worked to perfection. Trailing the Trojans 1-0 in the early minutes, WWPA Player of the Year and starting goalie Pablo de Souza backtracked with the ball to draw the entire USC defense forward for a few seconds. He then saw senior Kai Young break free on a designed play near USC's goalie and whipped the ball past the defense to Young, who immediately scored by using the element of surprise to his advantage.

The goal tied the game at 1-1 but more importantly, it inspired the entire CUI bench, which was complimented throughout the game by the national broadcast for its passion and high energy.

Senior Harry Bentham and freshman Levi Riegelmann each scored once in the first period to help CUI take a 3-2 advantage on the Trojans.

De Souza was sensational in the cage, racking up 16 saves and helping keep his squad in the game with a memorable stop on a 5M penalty shot as well as a breakaway attempt before halftime. USC led 6-3 at intermission.

A former ACWPC All-American and Concordia's all-time leading scorer, Bentham tallied his second goal in the third period to put the brakes on a 5-0 USC run. Later, freshman and First Team All-WWPA selection Dimitrios Koritsas joined Bentham with a pair of second half goals to lead the Concordia offense.

Despite CUI's best efforts on defense, USC was able to draw a bunch of exclusions on the Golden Eagles in the second half. Racking up the man advantages, USC separated down the stretch to secure a 16-6 victory that was closer than the final score indicated.

CUI concludes its best season in a decade with an overall record of 21-13 and its first NCAA men's water polo tournament appearance in program history. CUI defeated Biola 9-5 to clinch its first WWPA Championship after making its third straight reservation in the conference tournament championship game.

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